Any moderately well-read Regency reader can spot an anachronism from pages away: A woman who refers to her gown as having an Empire waist, zippers, chocolate, calling people of other nationalities by politically-correct names. Sure, and some of us authors (ahem!) have fallen down on the job of getting titles right, etc.

But what about the more subtle nuances? Or things that seem anachronistic, but aren’t?

For example, this week I watched a Chinese romantic comedy called Needing You. It stars my new favorite, Andy Lau, and the adorably cute Sammi Cheng. They work in the same office, and Lau is Cheng’s boss. The movie was made in 2000, so I was stunned when Lau commented to one of the other women in the office that her outfit would look a lot better if it was lower to show her boobs and the slit in her skirt were higher. Whoa, he said that?!? That would never pass muster in an American-made film, unless later he were forced to wear the outfit in question and go through a cat-call gauntlet. Not to mention it’s illegal in American workplaces to mention anything about appearance (right? I don’t work in a workplace, so I can compliment myself as much as I want, since I’m the only one here).

There were a few other instances of double standards in the workplace in the film, and it was hard for an American woman such as myself to take them in stride. But that reality is their reality, not mine, and if it’s something that rings true to them, so be it. I’m the outsider who has to deal with it.

Another film I saw this week was Inglourious Basterds, where a spy was found out because he made a gesture no German would do. It wasn’t even anything he thought about because it was so subtle, but it was a beacon for the gestapo guy sitting across from him. Societal norms are so strong within each of us that we don’t even think about the way we eat, or hold a pen, or make our “7”s, or wear our jeans–but you can always spot someone who’s not from around your parts by any of those tiny tells.

Then there’s language. Some of our ‘dirtiest’ language has been around for centuries, even though it might seem like a modern invention. So sometimes when it’s used in our books it’s not just for the shock value, but because that’s how they spoke. And, yes, certain sexual acts have been around forever, too, even though once I heard (laughably) an author say indignantly that Regency people didn’t do that. In a pig’s eye, I say; as long as men have had those, and we’ve had all this, all those acts have been done. Just saying.

Of course, that’s not to say Regency authors should worry less about historical and social accuracy, but just to say that there were doubtless exceptions for every accepted fact in our history. Things couldn’t exist that hadn’t been invented, but it is important to remember every Society has its own quirks, even societies existing within the same time period such as my Chinese film above; it’s kinda fun to think about, actually, and makes reading and writing the books even more fun.

What’s the most egregious error you’ve ever spotted? What have you thought was an anachronism that wasn’t? Which anachronisms bother you the most?

Megan

Right around this time, members of RWA are receiving big packets full of dreams–Golden Heart and RITA entries. The Golden Heart is RWA’s national contest for unpublished manuscripts, while the RITA is for published books.

I got my ginormous (eight books!) box of books this week, and I have a lot of reading to do. What I like best about judging the RITA is the chance to get exposed to books I don’t tend to pick up; yes, they’re all romance, but this box includes a bunch of category romances, which I don’t normally read. I pride myself on keeping a good perspective on the books, even if they’re not my usual cup of tea, so I feel comfortable taking on these genres (all except inspirational; I had one of those last year, and it was very hard for me to gauge. I hope I did a good job with it).

Reading out of your comfort zone can be liberating and exciting; maybe you’ll find an author you absolutely adore, or a trope you just can’t stand. It can also confirm your reasons for not reading in that genre, but that just means you know more coming out than you did when you started the book.

Do you read entirely within your normal range? Or do you take risks with other genres? If so, what was the last book you broke your own boundaries with?

Okay, so I think it’s rather chilly down below: I am actually looking forward to writing a synopsis.

I’ve had a writing crisis lately, which has made me question just why I persevere. This, in Megan-speak, is almost every day, but this writing crisis has been unusually strong, so it should actually be titled the Writing Crisis, with capitalization and everything.

But I tried to slog through it, and scheduled a writing date with my friend Liz Maverick, who proceeded to talk out the crisis with me. We decided it was foolish to leave work unwritten, and I have over 100 pages of a contemporary that I should finish. But to finish it, I needed to write the synopsis. So I did.

Meanwhile, in the throes of procrastination, I glanced at the first few pages of a paranormal I started. And now that I’ve finished the first synopsis (I did! I finished it!), I am going to write the synopsis for the paranormal, so I don’t just meander. And I am looking forward to it.

Hence my devil needs warming up comment above.

So my question to you today is–what awful task have you actually found yourself enjoying, or even looking forward to? What’s the longest you’ve procrastinated?

Megan

PS: (Yawn, Megan): Richard Armitage is the inspiration for the ‘hero’ in the paranormal.

Yes, I am a week late with this. Mea culpa; too much celebrating on New Year’s Eve.

As I pondered my faves from last year, I realized that there weren’t very many Regency-set historicals on the list. I have been reading a lot more paranormal, urban fantasy, mystery and straight-up fantasy than historical lately. I think that’s because historicals move more slowly than those other books, and I’ve read so many of those in my lifetime that I am in the mood for something different, and faster-paced.

Thanks to the avidbookreader, I was introduced to mystery authors Ken Bruen and Jo Nesbo. Bruen writes Irish noir–his Jack Taylor series features a frequently unlikeable private detective (of sorts) who battles many issues and solves some crimes along the way. Nesbo’s Harry Hole series is about a recovering alcoholic who serves on the police force. Both of the series’ books solve a crime particular to the book as well as continue a much larger story arc that will presumably get solved at the end of the series.

Thanks to Carolyn (yay for word-of-mouth recommendations), I started reading Brent Weeks‘ Shadow trilogy. Whoa. These books are so incredibly written and plotted it’s amazing. There are twists and turns you wouldn’t normally expect in this kind of densely-plotted world-building series. I am saving the last book in the trilogy for when I really need it, and am psyched to read his new series, coming out in 2010.

In historical, I continue to devour Elizabeth Hoyt‘s books, although I haven’t caught up to her latest release yet (I have it in the TBR pile). I like how she makes her characters so immediate and real without anachronism.

I read the first of Ilona Andrews‘ Edge series, which is urban fantasy that’s set in a rural setting. Rural fantasy? Anyway, this has got it all: Drama, humor, magic, a totally foxy hero, a kick-ass but humble heroine and real-life problems. I also continued reading her Magic series, and there are more of those coming in 2010 also.

This year, I read Tessa Dare‘s Goddess of the Hunt, which was deliciously satisfying; the story is intriguing, but it’s the characters and the zesty writing that really tickled my fancy.

I read the first in Jim Butcher’s Calderon series, which is up to about six installments thus far. I can’t wait until my son is old enough to read this, too, it’s got all kinds of swashbuckling adventure and in-depth characters who have passion.

Patricia Briggs‘ Mercy Thompson series had its best installment thus far, at least in my opinion, with Bone Crossed. Mercy is becoming a richer, more layered character with each successive book.

And speaking of rich and layered, Julia Spencer-Fleming‘s Millers Kill series continues to astound me. Yes, it’s a mystery series, but it’s also a helluva great love story.

(As I think about it, I realize I have many historicals on the TBR pile. Whew. For a minute I was worried I was losing my passion, but no, I’m just delving into new genres).

Thanks, as always, to people who mention how much they love certain books; I’m finding, more and more, that word-of-mouth is how I discover things, and it means so much more when it comes from someone you trust.

Hope your 2010 reading is awesome! If you care to share, what are you looking forward to most this year?